Any taxpayer may petition the department of revenue to compromise his or her delinquent income or franchise taxes including the costs, penalties and interest. The petition shall set forth a sworn statement of the taxpayer and shall be in a form that the department prescribes and the department may examine the petitioner under oath concerning the matter. If the department finds that the taxpayer is unable to pay the taxes, costs, penalties and interest in full it shall determine the amount the taxpayer is able to pay and shall enter an order reducing such taxes, costs, penalties and interest in accordance with the determination. The order shall provide that the compromise, if paid in a lump sum, is effective only if paid within 10 days or the order shall provide that the compromise is effective if paid according to a payment schedule that is set up by the department. The department or its collection agents upon receipt of the order shall accept payment in accordance with the order. Upon payment of the total amount due under the order, the department shall credit the unpaid portion of the principal amount of such taxes and make appropriate record of the unpaid amount of penalties, costs, and interest accrued to the date of the order. If within 3 years of the date of the compromise order or the date of a final payment under a payment schedule, whichever is later, the department ascertains that the taxpayer has an income or property sufficient to enable the taxpayer to pay the remainder of the tax including costs, penalty and interest the department shall reopen the matter and order the payment in full of such taxes, costs, penalties and interest. Before the entry of the order a notice shall be given to the taxpayer in writing advising of the intention of the department of revenue to reopen the matter and fixing a time and place for the appearance of the taxpayer if the taxpayer desires a hearing. Upon entry of the order the department of revenue shall make an appropriate record of the principal amount of the taxes, penalties, costs and interest ordered to be paid and such taxes shall be immediately due and payable and shall thereafter be subject to the interest provided by s. 71.82 (2), and the department shall immediately proceed to collect the same together with the unpaid portion of penalty, costs, and interest accrued to the date of the compromise order.
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